Man who initiated ‘manhole covers’ campaign in Karachi now being harassed by police

KARACHI: A man who initiated campaign to draw Sindh government’s focus towards public issues in Karachi has complained of harassment by the police.

Under the campaign, activist Alamgir Khan and his team of volunteers spotted several locations in Karachi with open manholes and potholes and spray painted face of Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah next to it and a message reads “Sleeping Beauty… please fix it”

Let’s Fix Karachi ourselvesI invite all CIVIL SOCIETY to join me today (Friday, 8th Jan, ’16) after Namaz-e-Jummah 3pm. We will FIX all gutters located at Main University Road on our own. I will show them the power of Aam Aadmi #fixit #karachi

The campaign went viral on the social media with lots of people speaking up against the Pakistan People’s Party-led Sindh government for misgovernance in the city.

Latest reports say that the man behind this social campaign is now facing maltreatment from the police on different pretexts.

According to Mr Khan, his father got a call from an inspector of the Ferozabad police station who asked him to visit the police station as our car has been found involved in a hit-and-run on Sharah-e-Faisal. “It’s only happening because I am using father’s car for the campaign,” he said.

Chief Minister also reportedly took notice of open manholes in Karachi and directed the administrator Karachi to fix the problem within two days, however it has not yet been addressed.

Khan has been posting videos on his Facebook page, urging citizens to join him in the social cause.

He clarified he had no personal grudge on the PPP or chief minister SIndh. I just want problems of a common man to be resolved and addressed.

He mentioned that purpose of spray painting face of CM Sindh beside open holes as the provincial government was delaying transfer of powers to the local government representatives and the Mr. Qaim Ali Shah is heading the Sindh government, he added.